Aquatic pleasure structure.



J. A. MILLER & V. KEENAN. AQUATIC PLEASURE STRUCTURE.

, U APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 29, 1912. I 1,076,779. Patented Oct. 28,1913.

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'OLUMUIA PLANOGRAPH (20., WASHINGTON. n c.

J. A. MILLER & v. KEBNAN. AQUATIC PLEASURE STRUCTURE Patented 0013. 28,1913.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1912. I

J. A. MILLER & V. KEENAN. AQUATIC PLEASURE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1912. 1,076,779.. Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

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CCILUMRIA PLANOGRAPH coqwAsllmal'oN. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MILLER, F HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS, AND VERNON KEENAN, 0F CINCINNATI,OHIO.

AQUATIC :PLEASUB/E STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 19.1.3.

Application filed November 29, 1912. Serial No. 733,984.

To (1U whom it may concem Be it known that we JOHN A. Mitten, a resldentof Homcwood, m the county of Cool: and State of lllllltns. and VernonKramer's, a resident of Cincinnati, in the,

aquatic pleasure structure to be installed in parks, amusement resorts,or the like, to afford pleasure in the same manner as pleasure railwaysand similar devices.

Among the important features of the invention are to provide means forrotating a body of water about a center so that centrifugal force willcause a whirlpool effect and its upper surface will slope downwardlyfrom the outer margins toward the center; to provide controllableobstructions or halffie members in the path of the water so that thewater may be rougl'ieucd to any desired extent and give a wave effect;to provide an arrangement whereby boats or floats may ride on and withthe traveling water and follow and respond to the various movementsthereof occasioned by the obstruction members; to provide convenientloading and unloading arrangement for passengers; structurally toprovide a receptacle for a body of water and improved means forrevolving the receptacle about an axis to carry the 'ater with it and tocause the centrifugal force to bank the water toward the outer edges ofthe receptacle; to provide means whereby the receptacle may be re tardedafter the water has been given a desired speed whereby there will thenbe relative movement between. the receptacle and the water; to providecontrollable obstruction or battle members as part of the receptacle sothat upon relative movement between the water and the receptacle thewater can be obstructed and controlled to be more or less violentlyagitated or to as sun'ie movement at its surface thus afford iugpleasure to occupants of the boats; to provide improved sustaining orsupporting nleans for the receptacle such sustaining means beingpreferably a fluid contained in a tank or pit, on which fluid therevolving structure Wlll float, such suspension um- ;formly ,sl stalnlngthe revolvmg structure without putting it to strain, and such sustainingmeans being practically devoid of friction and easily controlled; toprovide improved axis structure for centering the revolving structure inthe sustaining tank or pit and about which the revolving strum lure maytravel; to provide an arrangement whereby "adial rows of boats areyieldingly coupled together and anchored toward the axis so that theymay freely follow the vertical and circular movements of the water butare prevented from reaching the outer driven by a suitable motor; and ingeneral,

to provide a device of the above character which will give pleasure andamusement and which is entirely safe.

A construction embodying the various features of the invention isclearly illustrated on the accon'lpanying drawings, in which lEigure lis a plan view of the structure showing the boats removed from one-halfthereof to more clearly reveal the interior arrangement; Fig. 2 is asectional View taken from plane 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sideelevational view showing the manner of adjusting the water controllers;Fig. 4% is a plan view of a modified arrangement, and Fig. 5 is asectional view taken from plane 5 5 Fig. l.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, represents a tank or pit built preferably ofconcrete. At the center of the tank is a post 11 extending upwardly toform an axis for revolving mechanism. This post may be an iron pipefilled with concrete. The pit contains Water to which floats thetubshapecl receptacle 12 having the bottom 12 and the annular side wall12 The bottom 12* has the hole 12 at i s ren er in which is s cure fited at its .means are provided.

base a sleeve 13 which fits about the post 11 so that the receptacle mayreadily revolve about this post as an axis, the entire weight of thereceptacle and contents being, however, held up by the water in the pit.The tub structure contains water at whose level is some distance belowthe top of the wall 12 Suitable means, to be described later, areprovided for revolving the tub structure so that centrifugal forceacting on the Water a. will cause tile water to bank toward the wall 12so that its surface will be dished more or less in imitation ofwhirlpool. Suitablev passenger carrying devices, such as boats 14, areprovided and arranged to be supported on the water and to traveltherewith when the tub structure revolves. Any number of such boats maybe provided but in order to utilize the structure to its capacity,radial rows of boats are provided, as best shown in Fig. 1 where twocomplete circles of boats are provided. Any number of circles could ofcourse be provided depending upon the size of the structure. These boatstraveling with the water will move vertically to follow the verticalmovements of the water as the revoluble speed otthe water andconsequently the centrifugal force changes. The boats will also tend torespond to the centrifugal force and to move outward radially, and toprevent the boats from rubbing against or striking the tub structurewall 12 suitable anchoring .is shown, an anchor bar 15 extends inwardlytowarr the revolv ing ax s from each radial row of boats. At

their inner ends tnese anchor rods are each ivoted to lugs 16 providedon a ring 17 encircling the sleeve 13 and free to rotate relativethereto. The ancnor members are preferably pivoted at their outer endsto only the inner boat of the radial rows, the other boats of each rowbeing then preferably yieldably coupled together by spring links 18.Likewise adjacent boats of each circle are flexibly coupled together bymeans of spring links 19. The boats are then free to follow the variousmovements of the water and to do so independently of each other onaccount of the flexible couplin 's. The anchor members will howeverprevent the outer boats from ever reaching the retaining wall 12 Theloose engagement of the anchor ring 17 on the sleeve 13 will allow theboats to continue traveling even though the tub structure itself isbraked or stopped, suitable braking means to be describe d later, beingprovided for retarding the travel of the tub structure. hen the tubstructure is stopped, the water and the boats will gradually stoprevolving and will assume normal level .position. To assist in keepingthetub structure in the center of the pit and to reieve the post 11 ofstrains, guiderollers 20 are pivoted in brackets 21 applied at intervalsto the inner face of the pit, these rollers being engaged by the walls12 to keep the tub structure properly centered with reference to theaxis structure. Any suitable means tray be provided for revolving thetub structure. As shown, a cable loops about the wall 19 of the tubstructure, this cable bearing against the band 23 and held in registerwith the band by the ledge 24-. The cable passes about sheaves 2-5 and26 and coils about the drum 27. To drive this drum any suitable drivedevice may be nrovided as for example, an electric motor 98, and theshar me a C e pinion I i 0 fast with one .111 is driven, vel and willcarry with he tub structui e. In order to brake and to stop the tubstructure, suitable brake mechanism may be provided. The brake cchanismshown comprises a brake wheel connected with the drum end, a brake strap89. acircling the wheel, the ends of this brake strap being connectedwith a lever 33 in a well known manner so that wh n. the lever swungdown the strap will be tightened about the brake wheel and the travel ofthe cable retarded or stopped. With the arrangement aescribed, it it isdesired to start and revolve the tub structure, the brake strap iloosened and the motor ui controlled to gradu- 0 that the cable withthe. tub structure will revoi'. lClZUlQ. To re tard or to stop thestructure, the motor is disconnected from circuit and the brakemechanism actuated to retard the drum and thus through frictionalengagement otthe cable turns with the drum, the cable will be preventedfrom traveling at the same speed as the tub structure and owing tofriction, the tub structure will be gradually stopped. Thus alter thetub structure has been brought to considerable speed, the brake can besuddenly app ied to bring the tub structure to a quick stop, and waterand boats, however, continuing their movement until they also finallycome to rest. When the tub structure is started, it will takeconsiderable time to bring the water to the same speed unless provisionis for dragging the Water along in addition to the natural friction ofthe water against the tub'sides. e there fore provide paddles or bladeson the tub structure for eng; ing with the water to drag the water thetub structure to bring it to the same speed in very short time, saidpadcles or blades being also adapted to act as obstructions when the tubstructure is suddenl stopped as the Water continues revolving, the waterbeing under these conditions more or less agitated, depending cn therelative speed, and the blade members are adjusted so that they willcause the formation of waves during travel of the water thereover. Theconstruction and arrangement of the paddle or blade mechanism is bestshown in Fig. 3. Each paddle or blade 34 is trunnioned at one end in abracket 35 secured to the wall 12 and at its inner end is trunnioned ina bracket 36 secured to the tub structure floor. Ears 37 and 37 extendupwardly from one edge of each blade and pivoted to the outer ears ofall. the blade-sis a ring 38 and pivoted to all the inner ears is a ring88, so that rotation of-one blade on its trunnions will effect similarrotation of all the other blades. The trunnion shaft of one bladecarries at its inner end a gear 39 which meshes.-

with a driving gear 40 on the outer end of a shaft ll journaled inbearing frames 42 secured to the tub structure floor. The inner end ofthe shaft ll has a cranlr arni to which is pivoted the vertical connecting rod 45 whose upper end pivots a grooved wheel 456; theconnecting rod being guided in bracket 47 secured to the sleeve 13. Uponraising and lowering of the rod 45 shaft 44 is turned and the blades 3%are correspondingly rotated. On a guide rod 48 extending upwardly fromthe top of the stationary post 11 a frame 49 is slidably mounted andcarries the circular rail 50 which is engaged by the Wheel 46. Thisframe rcniains stationary and as the tub, structure revolves the wheelstructure travels around the rail and upon raising and lowering of theframe connecting rod 1-5 is raised and the blades can thus be adjustedat any time during the operation of the device. When the tub structureis to be revolved, the blades are raised to vertical position so as toengage thewater and drive it and force it along with the revolving tubso that the Water will soon have practically the same speed as the tubstructure. After the water has thus been to revolving, the naturalfriction of the water against the tub struc ture would keep it in stepwith the tub structure and the blades can then be moved to horizontalposition. However, to afford greater excitement and pleasure, the bladesare raised after the water has been started to full speed and the tubstructure has been suddenly retarded or stopped, the water thencontinuing to revolve to be agitated by its passage over the blades. Byproper setting of the blades at certain angles, the water travelingthereover can be caused to some wave motion and thus while the water istraveling relative to the tub structure. the blades can be set invarious positions to create a regular wave effect or a more choppyelfeot, all of which alfords considerable exciternent to the passengers.Suitable exit and entrance structure is also provided so that passengersmay safely enter and leave the structure and the boats. Such structuremay be along the outside of the tub structure or as shown, may extenddiametrically across the structure. As shown, a circular inain platform51 is mounted on the top of stationary post ll and carries anintermediate platform 1'32 to one curl of which leads an entrancestairway and from the op posite end of which leads an exit stairway 54;.Spanning the tub structure on one side between the stairway 53 and theouter stairway 55 is a bridge and spanning the opposite side of the tubstructure between the stairways 54 and 57 is a bridge 58. Stairways 59and 59 lead from the opposite sides of the intermediate platform to themain platform 5] and a railing (50 bisects the intermediate platform andstairs 59 and 59 into entrance and exit sides. Suitable pivoted bars 61may be provided for shut ting off or opening up the various stairways ascesired in order that incoming and out-going passengers will notinterfere with each other. In order to prevent the inner boats fromtouching the platform 51, the anchor bars 15 are preferably of rigidmaterial and still enough to hold the boats away from the platform atall times. The bridges 56 and 58 are of course of suflicient height sothat persons standing up in the boats will not be struck.

ln Figs. l and. 5 a modified arinngenient is shown. l n this arrangementthe tub structure 62 cylindrical but the inner poi tion of its bottom isremoved to leave only the annular bottom 63. a pit 10 similar to the pitshown in lligs. 1 and 2 and in which there is water w. the water alsoentering tub 62. if the tub structure 62 is of wood. it will tend tofloat in the water and to keep it at the proper depth so that it will bebetter balanced during rcvolving, an abutment track 64 is provided onthe inner face of the pit 10 against which rollers 65 on the tubstructure engage. The lower rail 6 may use be provided for the rollersto prevent the tub structure from sinking too far into the water. Radialsup porting beams 66 for the tub will extend from a central hub 67 whichengages about a post 11 in the same manner as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.With this arrangement, when the tub is revolved, the water over thefloor 68 will be drawn along and as the water moves from the center ofthe tub and banks around the sides thereof, part of the water will bedrawn from the pit into the tub structure. Adjustable blades can beprovided. just as Figs. 1 and 2 and the same form of driving means and.brake mechanism can be provided.

The closed tub structure of Figs. 1 and 2 could of course be supportedon a track like the structure of Figs. 4 and 5 instead of being floated.However, supporting the tub structure by flotation is very desirable as'is unis seinvo' lh l l t l Gopies of this patfin may be obtained 0 fivecents eac i ..1

Washmgton D 1 f: amessmg we 4 Wu .0. Commissioner of P t a ants.

